1/3 cup fresh cranberries (if in season, otherwise use a quarter of a lemon)

10 oz mushrooms, chopped coarse

3 ribs celery, cut into 1-inch sections

4 sprigs of thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1 bay leaf

4 cloves

1 teaspoon peppercorns

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 450°F. Pat dry the oxtails with paper towels and put them in a roasting pan. Sprinkle on all sides with salt and pepper. Add the carrots, onions, and zest. Roast in the middle rack, turning the oxtails as the are browned. Once browned, remove from oven and place the oxtails and vegetables into a large stockpot.

2 Place the roasting pan on the stove top on medium high heat. Add the wine to the pan to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits. Add the liquid to the stockpot with the oxtails. Add the cranberries, mushrooms, celery, thyme, bay leaf, cloves, and peppercorns. Bring the liquid to a boil, skimming whatever foam rises to the surface. Reduce the heat and simmer gently, uncovered, for 3 hours.

3 Ladle the mixture through a sieve lined with cheesecloth or paper towels into a large bowl. Reserve the oxtails for another use, such as oxtail pate. Discard the remaining solids. The bouillon can be made 3 days in advance and kept chilled. Discard excess fat (leave enough to cover soup when chilled).